His Six Months Rule

YAEL 5

He decided to make his entrance.

Hindi niya kayang palampasin ang pagkakataong iyon. Hindi siya sanay na pinapabayaan lang ang isang babae, lalo na kung ito ang babaeng unang hindi nagpakita ng kahit anong interes sa kanya.

“Watch and learn, boys,” he said smugly, straightening his black silk polo, its top buttons casually undone. His tailored slacks hugged him perfectly every inch the confident billionaire everyone knew. Pero deep inside ay parang nagkaroon na rin siya ng doubt sa kanyang charm. Para kasing wala man lang pakialam talaga sa kanya ang babae, parang nakita niya pa nga itong umismid na makita ang mga babaeng nagpapapansin sa kanya.

His friends just snorted.

“Bro, I give her five minutes before she melts.”

Travis laughed.

“I give her two.”

Itinatanim niya sa isip niya na siya si Yael, hindi siya mapapahiya. Charm was his language. At wala pang babae ang hindi nadadala rito. At ang isang Jamela Sy ay hindi exempted sa kanyang charm.

Jam was standing near the balcony, overlooking the glittering city lights. She held a glass of sparkling water, not champagne. The hem of her satin dress swayed with the breeze, catching the soft glow of the party lights. Her expression was calm almost untouchable.

“Perfect,” he muttered, then walked toward her. Medyo papalalim na ang gabi pero wala yatang may balak na tapusin kaagad ang gabi.

“Hindi ka umiinom?” he said smoothly as he stopped beside her, leaning casually on the railing. His scent woodsy and expensive mixed with the cold night air.

Jam didn’t even turn to look at him.

“Not tonight.” tila malamig pa ang tono nito.

“Sayang,” he replied, voice dipping low. “A drink with me would’ve been memorable.” parang nahihimigan na niya ang kanyang kabiguan ng mga sandaling iyon at parang gusto niyang haklitin nalang ang babae at iuwe, parusahan ito hanggang sa ma realize nito kung sino siya at kung ano ang kanyang kayang gawin sa babaeng tila nananadya sa ginagawang pag iwas sa kanya. It crushes his ego.

This time, she did look at him. Those sharp brown eyes met his unimpressed, steady. Damn. She wasn’t nervous. Hindi siya namumula. Hindi siya nagsusumigaw sa loob gaya ng ibang babae. She was just… looking. Para pa ngang bored na bored ito habang nakatitig sa kanya.

“Mr. Vergara,” she said flatly, crossing her arms. “I don’t owe you a drink.”

That threw him off. A little. But Yael was a pro at this.

“You don’t. But I saved your life, remember?” pagpapaalala pa niya dito.

“Yeah,” she answered coolly. “And I already said thank you. Hindi ibig sabihin noon ay may utang pa ako sa ’yo.”

He chuckled.

“Most women would’ve been more grateful. Besides you promised me to be in my bed for a month.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Then maybe you’re talking to the wrong woman.” sikmat nito.

For a second, Yael didn’t know how to respond. No one had ever talked to him like that before. Usually, women giggled, blushed, and begged for more of his attention. Pero si Jam? Parang gusto pa siyang layuan.

He tried again, lowering his voice the way women usually liked.

“You’re interesting.”

Jam stared at him like he was nothing more than a mild inconvenience. Para siyang isang nakakadiring species na nasa harapan nito. Parang gusto na siya nitong wisikan ng holy water.

“And you’re predictable.”

“Predictable?” He laughed softly, more intrigued than insulted.

“Rich. Handsome. Suplado. Alam kong sanay ka na lahat ng babae nakatingin sa ’yo.” She tilted her head slightly, her lips curving in the faintest smirk. “Pero sorry… hindi ako fan.”

The words hit him sharper than expected. Hindi ako fan.

No one had ever said that to him.

Lyndon and Damon, watching from afar, nearly spit out their drinks in shock.

“Bro, she just—she just rejected Yael Vergara.” Damon whispered,

Jam put down her glass and turned away, ready to walk back inside. Yael, caught off guard, found himself following her without thinking.

She stopped mid-step, glanced over her shoulder, and said clearly—every syllable like a slap of cold water:

“Hindi ako laruan, Mr. Vergara, stop pestering me, i'm not interested in you!”

Sabay tuluyang talikod sa kanya.

The following Monday, Yael walked into the sleek glass building of with his usual confident stride. Black suit. Crisp white shirt. Sunglasses resting on his nose. Another ordinary day in the life of the infamous playboy billionaire.

But the moment he stepped inside the boardroom and saw her, sitting at the opposite end of the long mahogany table the world tilted a little. Muling nanumbalik sa kanya ang naging kwentro nila ng nagdaang gabi. Kung paano siya nito ipinahiya at i reject na para bang isa siyang nakakadiring nilalang.

“Good morning, Mr. Vergara,” the head of his marketing department greeted. “This is Ms. Jamela Sy. She’ll be the creative director on the collaboration with .”

Jam looked up from the folder she was reviewing, her posture poised and confident. She was wearing a sleek white blazer, her hair tied neatly in a bun, and that same cool, unreadable expression on her face. Alam niyang estudyante pa ang babae pero habang nakatingin siya dito ay iba ang kanyang nakikita. Masyado na itong professional kahit pa isa palang itong estudyante.

"Okay." Sabi lang niya pero habang nakatingin siya sa will compose na babae ay di niya mapigilang di maghimutok.

For a second, Yael forgot how to breathe.

Jamela Sy. She is really something, sabi nga ng kaibigan niya ay ito ang tumulong sa kaibigan nito para maibangon ang kompanya. At ang kapalit ay ang pananatili nito sa mataas na posisyon. Pero he know her friend dahil minsan na din na nagkagusto sa kanya ang babae. Dangan nga lang ay di niya type ang babae.

“Mr. Vergara,” Jam greeted calmly. “Let’s keep this professional.”

“Of course,” Yael replied, masking his surprise with his usual lazy grin. “I can be professional… sometimes.”

She ignored his bait and focused back on the documents. Hindi siya katulad ng ibang babae na kakabahan, kikiligin, or magkakamali lang dahil sa presensya niya. She was too composed. Too strong. And that made him want to ruin that composure—no, understand it. Parang gusto niya tuloy bumalik noong gabing nakilala niya ito, at least nung time na iyon ay hindi ito ganito ka dominante, helpless and weak ang babae that night.

The meeting went smoothly, at least on paper. They discussed a luxury fashion campaign, co-branding strategies, exclusive designs, and media launches. But beneath the polite business talk, an unspoken tension crackled between them. Actually di naman yun ang focused niya the whole time dahil masyado siyang busy. Yael found himself watching how she pushed her hair behind her ear when she was deep in thought… how her brows furrowed when someone made a weak suggestion… how she commanded the room without even trying.

Jam pov

She was determined to act like he didn’t exist outside of this project. No matter how distracting he looked leaning against the wall, sleeves rolled up, smirk tugging at his lips. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“Alright,” Jam finally said, gathering her things. “I’ll finalize the first drafts by Friday. Expect everything on schedule.” nagmamadali siyang tapusin ang presentation niya ngayon dahil may mga kinakailangan pa siyang i review sa school lalo at exam na niya next week.

Kinailangan niya lang na mag focus nitong mga nakaraang linggo at ayusin ang mga campaign na ginawa ni Nymfa para sa kompanya nito na palpak talaga. Di niya alam kung ano ang magiging kinabukasan ng kompanya nito of she is no longer available to fix things like this. Pakiramdam niya nga ay iniasa nalang nito palagi sa kanya ang lahat ng bagay.

Ayos lang naman sana sa kanya if may maayos siyang sahod, kaya lang ang sesti ay halos wala pa nga sa kalahati ng normal na empleyado na nasa ganung posisyon ang ibinibigay nitong sahod dahil estudyante pa naman daw siya. And she is tired pf that s**t na para bang di nito pinapahalagahan ang kanyang effort para matulongan ang papalubog na sanang kompanya ng pamilya ni Nymfa.

“Looking forward to it,” Yael answered smoothly, leaning closer just a little. “Working with you might be… fun.” sabi pa ng lalaki alam naman niya na nakukuha niya ang attention nito sa kanyang ginagawang pambabalewala.

She did it intentionally dahil natatakot siya na baka singilin siya nito sa one month in bed nito, akala niya talaga ay magagawa niyang panindigan ang pagkagaga niya that night. But it seems that it's really hard lalo at hindi naman pang seryuso at pang matagalan ang gusto ng lalaki. She is too innocent to dealt with someone like Yael Vergara. Part of her is somehow loved how the guy reacted as she continue ignoring his presence. Alam niyang natatapakan niya ng malala ang ego nito, lalo at sanay na sanay ito sa mga flattery words mula sa mga babae.

Jam gave him a short, clipped smile.

“For me, it’s just business, Mr. Vergara. Nothing more.”

The room cleared out after the meeting. Jam was the last to leave. Yael leaned on the glass wall, eyes following her every movement. There was something about the way she carried herself, like she’d built a fortress no one could enter.

She adjusted her bag, walked past him without hesitation, and opened the door.

For the first time in a long while, Yael’s chest gave an unfamiliar thump.

As Jam disappeared down the hallway, Yael’s hand unconsciously clenched on the railing.

“What the hell was that?”

Narinig niya pang sabi ni Yael. Di niya tuloy mapigilang di magdiwang, parang napakalaking achievement na yung nagawa niyang i reject ng harapan ang lalaki. Alam niyang malaking insulto sa panig ng lalaki ang kanyang ginagawang pambabalewala dito kanina.